WhatsApp costs (only) 89 euro cents per year. A paltry price when compared with the great use we make of the application, even more so if we think about how much the old and dear SMS cost. Still, not everyone is willing to face this expense and, of course, there are tricks to avoid it. In this post we see how not to pay WhatsApp every year and be able to use the application totally free.

Update 2016: WhatsApp is free for all users

There are four ways (two official and two unofficial) to get the free application.

Before seeing them in detail, however, let’s immediately dispel a myth: it is not true that by deleting and re-installing the WhatsApp application it becomes free. Many believe it’s that simple. In reality, just give it a try to understand that it is just one of the many hoaxes found on the web.

Important! Before following any of these methods, it is good to make a backup copy of all your WhatsApp data, in order to avoid losing messages, photos and other information if something unexpected occurs. (The procedure for backing up is explained at the end of this article).

# 1. How not to pay WhatsApp: iPhone method

This trick to not pay WhatsApp only affects Apple iPhone smartphones . Until recently, in fact, those who downloaded WhatsApp on the iPhone paid only a one-off sum and then could take advantage of the free service for life.

Well, all you have to do now to not pay for WhatsApp on iPhone is to download WhatsApp using the same SIM (and therefore the same phone number, which must not have been changed) with which the application was downloaded with the one-off payment. .

After downloading , the application will recognize you as a user who already has the free service active for life and you will therefore avoid having to pay the fee.

After obtaining WhatsApp for free with this procedure, you can decide to change the phone number to which the app is associated and transfer your free subscription to another phone number. To do this, just go to Settings -> Accounts -> Change Number .

#2. How not to pay WhatsApp: “pay a friend” method

Another way to get the application at no cost is to have someone else pay for WhatsApp, such as a friend or relative.

There are two ways to do this. Either explain to your friend how to make the payment on your behalf directly from his mobile phone , or send him the payment link via email.

In the first case , tell your “benefactor” to go to Settings -> Contacts and click on Pay for a friend . At this point, all you have to do is enter your phone number and choose the payment procedure (PayPal or Credit Card) with which to give you this little gift.

Alternatively, you can email a link yourself to your benefactor. In this case, just open WhatsApp and go to Settings -> Accounts -> Payment info and click on Send payment link . Now enter the email you want to send the payment to. The benefactor will receive an email with a link (which can be opened both from mobile phones, tablets and PCs) that will take them to the procedure for paying for your application.

# 3. How not to pay WhatsApp: “delete the account” method

This third trick to not pay WhatsApp can be highly dangerous but in some cases it can be useful (to extreme evils, extreme remedies).

In a nutshell, it consists of completely canceling your account and re-registering from another mobile phone . The steps are simple but must be done correctly to avoid mess.

• First we delete the WhatsApp account by going to Settings -> Accounts -> Delete account . Enter your phone number and click on Delete account .
• Then, delete the application from your phone.
• At this point you need another mobile phone (on which WhatsApp is not installed) with a new SIM (different from the one you used before).
• Download WhatsApp on the new phone and complete the installation procedure by entering the verification code you receive via SMS.
• Now, you have to delete both the account and the application again, but this time on the new phone you got.
• Finally, install WhatsApp again on your phone (not the one on loan) and register normally with your number.

PS This method may not be 100% effective. Whatsapp engineers are always at work to avoid certain tricks.

# 4. How not to pay WhatsApp: “pc simulator” method

This last way to have free WhatsApp for life on your mobile phone we have called “pc simulator” because it consists in using a simulator on your computer . The trick that we will explain is not illegal in all countries, but it is simply a way to exploit the full potential of the application at no cost. Even if, let us remember again, WhatsApp is available free for the first year for all users and the following years the cost is very minimal, only 89 cents.

Let’s see in detail how the “pc simulator” method works:

Even if our WhatsApp account is associated with the telephone number we register, on the service’s servers this information is also synchronized with the unique identifier (the so-called ID) of the mobile device. Thanks to this, devices registered for the first time can take advantage of the free service . Thus, thanks to the simulator, it is as if WhatsApp thinks that we are new users and therefore does not force us to pay to continue using the application.

All you need is a computer on which you will have to install an emulator of the Android mobile operating system. We recommend using Nox Player , but any emulator that works is a good alternative.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Delete the account and application from your smartphone (as in method 3)
• Open the Android emulator (Manymo) on your computer’s web browser.
• Access the Browser application and enter the URL https://www.whatsapp.com/android .
• Click on Download Now and, after downloading it, install the application.
• Open WhatsApp in the emulator and record the phone number.
• Wait until you receive an SMS with the code (or, alternatively, use the call).
• Download and install WhastApp again on your mobile using the new code received.
• Now, after activating WhatsApp, you will see that the service is free for one year.

To make the service free for life, just repeat the procedure every time the free year is about to expire.

PS The license costs only 89 cents / year so I invite you to pay for it without using this trick. Obviously the procedure is illegal (Although in the end it is a mistake by the developers themselves, so it is only partially illegal). In any case I DECLINE any responsibility. If you have problems or you find it offensive you can write to jan@whatsappmania.it requesting the removal.

Telegram, the free alternative to WhatsApp

If you don’t want to pay for WhatsApp and these procedures seem complicated or boring to you, you can opt for an alternative service that offers the same services as WhatsApp, but at no cost . We are talking about Telegram Messenger , the instant messaging service alternative to WhatsApp that most of all has made its way into the sector.

Thanks to this free application you can send messages, photos, videos and documents to the people who are in the phone book (and have Telegram). It is also possible to create groups of up to 200 people.

Telegram is based on a Cloud system and its strong point is a modern and functional encryption system . This means that messages are synced seamlessly across any phone, tablet or computer securely. Furthermore, you can share an unlimited number of documents (doc, zip, mp3, etc). No advertising or subscription costs.

The application is available for iPhone , Android and Windows Phone .

After downloading it, just follow the simple activation instructions, associate it with your phone number and start communicating!

If you want to find out more details, here is a post dedicated to the best alternatives to WhatsApp.

How to backup on WhatsApp

As indicated at the beginning of this article, it is good to always make a copy of your WhatsApp data before trying any of the tricks explained above. “ Better to prevent! ”Says the proverb. Also because, in case of side effects, there is no cure 

Let’s see how to back up on iPhone and Android (on other devices the procedure is still very similar):